Apparatus for supporting tubing during well completion



May 9, 1950 E. E. DAVIDSON ET AL APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING TUBING DURINGWELL COMPLETION 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 30, 1946 Inventors" EDWARDE'. DAVIDSON JOHN R. DOGGETT Attorneys y 1950 E. E. DAVIDSON E AL2,507,246

APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING TUBING DURING WELL COMPLETION Filed July 50,1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A c o P [6 L Y! 20 EE n l6 3 FIG. 4.

Inventors EDWARD E. DAVIDSON JOHN R. DOGGETT Attorneys y 9, 1950 E. E.DAVIDSON ETAL 2,507,246

APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING TUBING DURING WELL COMPLETION Filed July 30,1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 6. 0 FIG. 8.

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I 5| 5o I i I 3 FIG. 9. i -E- T Inventors I EDWARD E. DAVIDSON JOHN R.DOGGETT KW MW Aflorneys Patented May 9, 1950 APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTINGTUBING DURING WELL COMPLETION Edward E. Davidson and John R. Doggett,Houston, Tex., assignors to Gray Tool Company, Houston, Tex., acorporation of Texas Application July 30, 1946, Serial No. 687,134

2 Claims.

1 The present invention relates to apparatus for the safe completion ofoil wells, wherein all necessary operations subsequent to drilling inmay be performed with the well under complete con-- trol, and whereinthe control equipment used for the above purposes may then be removedand replaced with the christmas tree for use during the flow life of thewell.

In Patent No. 2,241,288 to Yancey, May 6, 1941, practical and successfulapparatus for completing Wells is disclosed employing a, stuffing boxhanger S which is landed and locked in a tubing head through controlequipment as indicated in Figure 2 of the patent. The control equipmentshown may then be removed and the christmas tree substituted as shown inFigure 3 of the patent. While this completion apparatus has provedsuccessful in practical use, it is subject to some disadvantages whichthe present invention avoids. For instance, referring to Figure 2 of thesaid Yancey patent, it will be noted that the tubing collar C bearsagainst the stuffing box gland of the hanger at a time when the entireweight of the tubing is supported on the hanger by this collar. As somethousands of feet of oil well tubing may be involved, the chances ofinjury to the stuffing box of the hanger are con-' siderable, and infact, such injury has been found to result in practice. It is a purposeof our invention to provide equipment which avoids the abovedisadvantages, and without complicating the equipment which must be leftas a permanent part of the well installation. An object of theinvention, therefore, is to provide a temporary support for the tubingwhich is available for use when needed, but which can be easily removedwhen its service is no longer required.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a removablesupport which makes unnecessary the employment of more complicatedtubing head, hanger or special tubing collar designs, and it is apurpose of the invention to provide such a removable tubing supportwhich can be lowered through the control equipment without at any timeimpairing the protective availability of the latter.

Referring again to the said Yancey patent, it will be noted in Figure 3that a slip holder '74 and slips 72 are employed to support the tubing30 when the christmas tree is being attached thereto. This involves aseparate step or operation subsequent to the time when the controlequipment has been removed. It is an object of the present invention toeliminate this separate step and the I ously present to support thetubing while attach- Iiiv ing the christmas tree. In accordance with theabove, we have provided a removable tubing sup port, (and one capable ofpassing through control equipment) which supports and presents thecollar to which the christmas tree is to be connected a sufficientdistance above the flange of the tub ing head, whereby when the tubinghead has been landed and the control equipment removed, the christmastree may be immediately attached. Thereafter, the separable support maybe easily removed so that the christmas tree is then per-. manentlylanded on the tubing head with the tubing suspended from the christmastree in the manner discussed in said Yancey patent. During all of theabove, the control and convenience of the stuifing box hanger ispresent, all in the manner-disclosed in said Yancey patent.

It will be understood that after attachment of the christmas tree andremoval of the support,- the tubing may be elevated and manipulatedthrough its hanger with complete control incident to the setting ofproduction packers as disclosed in said Yancey patent. It is notable,that by reason of the use of the present invention, the marring orcutting of the polished upper end of the tubing which must pass throughthe stufiing box hanger is avoided, thus protecting, the seal in thehanger, whereas the use of slips, and the like as in the Yancey patentmay injure said polished surface.

Various other objects and advantages of thisinvention will be apparentas the description herein progresses. In the drawings: I

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of now well known equipment usedduring a stage of Well completion, showing the removable support of ourinvention preliminarily positioned for use. This figure may be comparedwith Figure 1 of the said Yancey patent.

Figure 2 is a part side elevational part vertical sectional view of aportion of the apparatus of; Figure 1, showing a subsequent stage ofoperations wherein the hanger has been landed and, the operation of theremovable tubing support comes into play. This view may be compared:with Figure 2 of the said Yancey patent.

Figure 3 is a similar view, of a subsequent condition of the apparatusafter the control equipment has been removed and at the time thechristmas tree is being attached. This view may be compared with Figure3 of the said Yancey patent.

Figure 4 is a similar view, but showing the necessity for introducing anagency not previ-ta; condition of the apparatus after the christmas.

tree has been landed and secured, and after removal of any tubingclosure which ma have been employed for control, this view beingcomparable to Figure 5 of the aforesaid patent.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the two parts of the removable tubingsupport.

Figure 5 is a side 'elevational View of the tubin support with its partsassembled.

Figure 7 is a top plan view of the assembled tubing support.

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view of the tub ing support, takenalong the line 8 8 of Figure '7, and

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional View at right angles to that of Figure8 (along the line 9- 901 Figure 7) and indicating in dotted lines amanner in which the tubing may be supported. 7

In connection with the description below, it will be understood that nowknown safe completion practices are contemplated, as referred to in thesaid Yancey Patent 2,24 :1288, and reference is also made to Patent2,148,327, Smith et ah, Feb. 21, 1939 for a further description of thesafe practices with which the present invention is concerned, thepresent apparatus being intended as an improvement of the apparatusdisclosed in both of said patents.

Referring to Figure l, the usual outside casing is shown at [6, attachedthereto is a casing head [2 of the type adapted to receive a casinghanger carried at the upper end or an inside casing 14 of smaller size.Preferably, this casing hanger will be of the double tapered type asdisclosed in Patent 2,082,413, Mueller, et a1., June 1, 1937, so thatthe next casing head or tubingheed 16 will seal with said hanger.Referring to-Fi'gure 2, the full opening tubing head i9 has an insidetapered seat l8 of a minimum diameter substa'ntially as large as theinterior'diaineter of the casing I4, in order to receive ahanger(speciih cally a stuffing box hanger S of the type described in saidYancey patent) and has pressure prooi locking screws 20 which can beoperated while the control equipment is present to lock the hanger inits seat as described in the patents previously mentioned. I

Returning now to Figure 1; it will be observed that the full openingcontrol equipment is shown as including a master drilling valve M andany well-known form of blow out preventor B. This equipment is removablysecured on the tubing head I6 and is or full bore to permit successfulperformance of all of the operations incident to well completion asreferred to in said patents; the control equipment being of related sizeto that of the tubing head.

The tubing is shown at T, and when operations have reached the state ofFigure 1 (i. e.; when tubing is to be run in), a stuf fing box hanger Sis positioned on the tubing below a special collar C, whose constructionis completely described in the said Yancey patent,- including itsprovision of a removable tubing back pressure valve. At this time, theremovable support P of the present invention is slipped around thetubing be tween the hanger S and the special collar C. As clearly shownin Figures 5 through 9, the rmov able support comprises interfittin'gupper and lower sections 25 and 26 respectively, which when assembled tothe tubing as disclosed in Figure 6 and in Figure 1, forms a cylindricalsupport of diameter no larger than that of the hanger S and without anyprotruding parts which would interfere with complete freedom of use ofthe device.

As described in the said Yancey patent, and referring to Figures 1 and2, the control equipment is properly manipulated to lower the hanger Sto its seat and seal the well, as shown in Figure 2, and when the hangeris locked in its seat by the screws 20 (and with the inside sealprovided bya back pressure valve in the collar C), the master drillingvalve M and other control equipment may be safely removed. When this isdone, the tubing is supported on the hanger S which sealed in the tubinghead l6 by the weight of the tubing imparted to the hanger by the collarC through the special support P.

However, there is no weight carried on my of the sealing parts of thehanger, such as its 'st'ufling box. The possibility of injury to partswhich would cause subsequent leakage i thereby avoided.

The special support P is of such vertical thickness that it presents theupper end of the special collar C in proper position for immediatethreading to adapter A or any other device which comprises the lower endof the christmas tree, and without elevating the tubing or otherwisesupporting it as by slips. The christmas tree is shown as including thesmaller master manifold valve X. After the christmas tree is attached,as illustrated in Figure 3, the tubing may be slightly elevated and thesections of the special support P separated and laterally removed fromthe tubme, without breaking the tubing or in any way disturbing thecontrol of the well, and thereafter the christmas tree is landed andbolted onto the tubing head. The back pressure valve may then beremovedfrom the special collar C in order that the well may be flowed undercontrol of the christmas tree valve X as described in the Yancey patent.

7 As stated above, various manipulations of the tubing such as forsetting packers, may be performed after the christmas tree is attachedand before it is landed and permanently secured, as disclosed in saidYancey patent.

It will here be noted that the present apparatus makes possible theimmediate attachment of the christmas tree when the control equipmenthas been removed. Furthermore, it Will be observed that all oftheartsnecessary for attachment of the tree are already available when thecontrol equipment is removed, and in addition, the actual attachingoperation may be performed without having to support the christrnas treerelatively high in the well as in the said Yancey patent. V fteierringtoFigure 5 the upper part 250i the se itlisem s w n -l ke emb r 30 h ing acentral cylindrical opening 32 which opens out to the outer rim of themember through a 1'adia1 -slot 34 having width slightly greater than thetubing T. Opposite the slot 34; the upper section of the support has adepending his 3 5 which is just thick enough to fill a similar slot inthe" lower section 26 ofthe support. The lowersectio'n has aring'por'ti'on 38 with a slot at just wide enough to pass the tubinginto its interior circular opening" '32 There is an up} standing lug{Mon this ring opposite the slot 40, and wiieri the" two parts areassembled as shown in Figures' 6 through 9, lug 44 fits in slot 34 andlug '36 fits in slotjlll; and the two parts thus form asleeve-li-l'resupport around the tubing. The support may be very conveniently takenapart to remove the device when no-loneer needed. Lock: ing screws 46may be providedto'pass through vertical openings 48' in' ach of thesections of the sup er-t to lock the same together when properlyassembled. It may also be found to be desirable to form the bore of thelower ring and the interior of the lug 36 with a. ledge 50 as indicatedin Figures 5 and 9, as this ledge may be found useful to supportprojections on pipe which might not be of sufiicient diameter to rest ontop of the upper section as in Figure 9. An annular depression 5! isformed around the bore 42 of the lower ring and a shallow dependingportion 52 is formed on the bottom surface of the upper ring to causesaid rings to accurately and firmly interfit with one another.

The stuffing box of the hanger S may be formed generally as shown in thesaid Yancey patent comprising compressible packing 23 to seal with thetubing, upper and lower follower rings, and a threaded gland 22 whoseupper end is well below the upper surface of the hanger. If desired, aremovable threaded ring 24 may close the lower end of the bore of theban er. As will be observed, a depending ring 53 on the bottom of thesupport rests on the top of the hanger well above the s-tuffing boxgland. In order to provide for proper seating of the supporting ring onthe hanger, the lower ring 38 is of outside configuration taperinginwardly to the foot ring 53, which is of proper reduced diameter torest on the top surface of the hanger S, and yet not enter the bore ofsaid hanger to contact the stuffing box thereof. The taper of the lowerring is such that the foot ring 53 does not contact the inner pointedends of the locking screws 20.

In accordance with this invention, a removable support is provided ofsize and shape for lowering through the control equipment, so that whenthe latter is removed, the equipment is immediately in condition forattachment of the christmas tree without moving the tubing or insertingany other parts not previously present.

We claim:

1. Completion equipment comprising a tubing head having an inside seat,a tubing hanger having an outside surface to seal with said seat and abore for the tubing concentrically positioned with respect to said seatwith a stufiing box therein having a gland terminating below the upperend of said bore, a temporary tubing support comprising upper and lowersections, each having a. central bore therethrough of diameter adaptedto closely embrace the tubing, and having radial slots extending fromsaid bore to the exterior of said sections adapting said sections forlateral insertion onto and around the tubing, each of said sectionshaving an extending lug which fills the slot in the opposite sectionwhen said sections are assembled on the tubing, said sections whenassembled forming a substantially cylindrical tubular support having anupper surface adapted to engage and support a collar on the tubing andhaving a body which tapers inwardly to a foot ring of diameter adaptedto rest on the upper surface of said tubing hanger without entering thebore thereof, said hanger and support being of size and shape capable ofbeing lowered through control equipment such as master drilling valveand blow out preventer of corresponding size with said tubing head.

2. Completion equipment comprising a tubing head having an inside seatand locking screws for locking the hanger in said seat, a tubing hangerhaving an outside surface to seal with said seat, and a bore to receivethe tubing concentrically positioned with respect to said seat with astuffing box therein having a gland terminating below the upper end ofsaid bore, said hanger having a top surface around said bore which inturn is surrounded by a beveled surface for engagement by the heads ofsaid locking screw, a temporary tubing support comprising upper andlower sections, each having a central bore therethrough of diameteradapted to closely embrace the tubing, and having radial slots extendingfrom said bore to the exterior of said sections, adapting said sectionsfor lateral insertion onto and around said tubing, each of said sectionshaving an extending lug which fills the slot in the opposite sectionwhen said sections are assembled on the tubing, said sections whenassembled forming a substantially cylindrical tubing support having anupper surface adapted to engage and support a collar on the tubing, andhaving a body which tapers inwardly to a foot ring of diameter to reston said upper surface of said hanger without entering the bore thereofand without engaging th heads of said locking screws, said hanger andsupport being of size and shape capable of being lowered through controlequipment such as master drilling valves and blow out preventers ofcorrespondin size with said tubing head.

EDWARD E. DAVIDSON. JOHN R. DOGGETT.

REFERENCE S CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 780,861 Buzard Jan. 24, 19052,241,288 Yancey May 6, 1941

